Block 6
Complicated results returning from the 2022 Egypt COP27 United Nations conference have shown India as having a renewable energy desire, but India’s Finance Minister stating “India needs greater investment in coal production.” Revealing India isn’t willing to sacrifice their coal market for the bettering of the environment, but still offering their share in renewable energy sources. The knowledge of an expanding coal consumption in India left the U.S, Britain, and EU countries with a bitter taste in their mouths.
The U.S, Britain, and the EU have for the past multiple decades been the frontline of the movement to decrease the use of non-renewable, polluting energy sources such as coal. Hosting events like these to make sure other countries participate. With India participating by increasing investment in renewable energy, but also expanding its coal production and consumption to 1 billion tonnes this year is not what the EU-NATO countries were looking for. The good and then very bad results coming from India raised the questions of is the “investment” in renewable energy sources just a load of hot air, or a serious investment even though they are also investing a lot in coal, which is a heavy polluter and is not renewable. From India’s perspective, 55% of their energy needs are accomplished via. Coal. This meaning that it would be a serious jump to get rid of even just a quarter of their coal production and consumption as they would have to invest heavily in another form of energy to prepare for the conversion, and as India is a rapidly growing country that will want to gain every Rupee possible to get itself on a global power playing field before it starts to sacrifice itself for the good of the planet.
Connecting this article to class, the collective goods problem is very far from being solved here. The EU-NATO countries, especially the U.S, Britain, and France are investing hundreds of billions into decreasing pollution, global warming, and resource sustainability, while India is increasing its fossil fuel consumption to an amount that will be catastrophic to the progress earned in the world as of now. The major contributors will not be happy with India, and will be less agreeing for the next few years to come as a result of the almost diss off from India.